Sample from a 'How To" guide

Data entry popup for recording measurements and observations

What would happen if a learning designer developed a prototype for the app? What emphasis would this have?

This story is about how an idea for improving workflow and job performance came out of the analysis and design for a new training course.

We could anticipate the potential performance benefits immediately.

The delivery team could see potential for such an app:

More consistent rating of visual observations between technicians.

New technicians would develop experience more quickly.

Technicians from other areas could more readily ‘stand-in’ on a temporary basis, as the app would guide and support them in making valid observations.

The training course could be shorter and more tactical as it wouldn’t be trying to front-load information.

A prototype was developed over a week. It included just enough complexity to make it useful as a presentation and communication driver with others in the business.

The commercial production of an app didn’t go ahead but that wasn’t an expected outcome. We experienced the power of a prototype in bringing people together to focus on building a solution. We also saw the potential for embedding performance support into the workflow, right inside the app that gets used to do the job, and how much this just seemed to make sense.

Oh, and the learning designer, that was the author. He’s on a search looking for like minded others, to make some cool things happen.